NEWS/NAUJIENOS
AN OPEN LETTER TO FEMEN AND THE IRONY OF WESTERN ‘FEMINISM’
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- Written by anti-imperialism.com
Despite its English-language messaging, FEMEN claims to represent ‘Arab Women against Islam’ and encourages women around the world to “bare breasts against islamism [sic].” Essentially, FEMEN asks women to write messages (‘Free Amina’) on their topless bodies, take pictures, and post them online.
It is ironic that a movement which uses women’s naked bodies as advertising also claims to be ‘feminist.’ Fashion merchandisers who use half-naked models to sell lipstick and t-shirts are simultaneously promoting patriarchy. The same applies to nominally ‘feminist’ political messaging.
Privileged westernized women may think it is rebellious to use their chest as billboards for this or that cause. However, it is oppressed women who are most likely to be corralled into brothels and seedy strip clubs due to the commodification and objectification of women’s bodies.
And let’s be real: not long ago, western women in Victorian dresses were supporting genocidal ‘civilizing missions’ against half-nude ‘heathens.’ From this perspective, the ‘liberation’ pushed by privileged First World women is a cynical ploy to secure their own aristocratic position within global gender hierarchies.
FEMEN is not an isolated case. Rather, imperialist centers are increasingly utilizing online-media-inspired ‘mass’ movements to create public opinion in its interest.
Anti-imperialists must be vigilant and ready to oppose ‘progressive’ and ‘feminist’ movements which advance the interests of imperialism. But, Muslim women don’t need us to tell them what they already know:
AN OPEN LETTER TO FEMEN
Hey FEMEN,
We understand that it’s really hard for a lot of you white colonial “feminists” to believe, but- SHOCKER! – Muslim women and women of colour can come with their own autonomy, and fight back as well! And speak out for themselves! Who knew?
FAREWELL, CHINUA ACHEBE
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- Written by DEad WOrkers Union (DEWOU-DAMTP)
Chinua Achebe (Albert Chinualumogu Achebe), the Nigerian writer, has died at the age of 82 and therefore is on his way to join the DEad WOrkers Union.
"The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers and our clan can no longer act like one," says Okonkwo's friend, Obierika, in the novel Things Fall Apart, which was published in 1958.
DAMTP INTERDISCUSSION 01111001101 ON FURTHER STRATEGIES
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- Written by DAMTP
0. reading your texts is touching heart but how they are written - with so much structure and rationality in all even absurd moments - it seems to me to be fully within the tradition of anglo-european way of expression, way of using language, words for purpose... well - I am in a moment of low trust to language in general - how much better was Hagir speaking whatever - nobody was later blaming her for accusations... and how much I remember expression of her face. Lets follow meeting of artist with embargo on making art and make next meeting with embargo on formulating ideas... or formulating in languages the others don’t understand (for me easy - both)
1. Yes remix ABC
But also
We write like whiteman
To fight the whiteman
Whiteman creates nothing he only steals and then uses our creations against us
So we use his weapon against him
POST POST DISCUSSION FOLLOWED OUT OF [IN]FAMOUS SATURDAY DISCUSSION AT PSYCHICDECOLONIZATION MEETING IN ALYTUS ON SEPTEMBER 22nd , 2012
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- Written by DAMTP
СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ БЕЛОРУССКИЕ ХУДОЖНИКИ ССУТ! /// CONTEMPORARY BELORUSSIAN ARTISTS MAKE A PISS!
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- Written by yakizdat
EUROPEAN VILE RACISM NOT AUSTRALIAN FINE DINING
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- Written by DAMTP
To the management of:
Reef N' Beef
Jernbanegade 4
1608 København V
Tlf: 33 33 00 30
Fax: 33 33 08 38
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Your slogan should be European Vile Racism not Australian Fine Dining
Despite being informed by numerous Aboriginal people that your advertising is clearly racist you have refused to apologise and withdraw the offensive material.
see:
http://blackfeministranter.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/reef-n-beef-and-one-hell-of-disgusting.html
You have claimed that you are comining the traditional with the contemporary. However this is ingenious considering you are just showing traditional European with traditional Aboriginal or "Australian" images.
A more likely explanation therefore if one considers the traditional and contemporary, you are upholding European traditions of racism and white supremacy.
We will not enter now any further into the problematics of the imagery or indeed the theft of the image, of the individual's privacy, of the theft and continual theft and genocide perpetuated by European powers.
We simply warn you clearly to repeal the imagery and apologise forthwith.
You have been warned.
DAta Miners Travailleurs Psychique
CLASS OPEN LETTER TO CAMBRIDGE DEBATING UNION: JSTFU
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- Written by CLASS
However we feel we should go further in pointing out that Fascism and Neoliberalism are just two sides of the same coin - that of White Supremacist culture.
You pride yourself on being defenders of freedom and debate but your debates resemble the circular doctrine of a schizophrenic. You only ever converse with versions of yourself. You will never let anyone else speak therefore it is high time you shut the fuck up.
Your freedom of speech is only the freedom of the bosses, bastards and BBC paedophiles. Of Rupert Murdoch. Of fascists, nazis, racists and rapists. Of politicians and paedophiles. The freedom to attack and abuse workers
and even worse, the defenceless.
We hereby invite you to reject the life of privelidge and capitalism you are born, thrust or journeying into and join the workers in open revolt against the ruling class.
In the meantime we sincerely invite you to just shut the fuck up. As the Cambridge elite in particular , as white men in general, please just shut the fuck up.
Yours sincerely,
Daniel X,
Cambridge Lettrist And Situationist Society
MANIFESTO
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- Written by Christopher Dorner
From: Christopher Jordan Dorner /7648
To: America
Subj: Last resort
Regarding CF# 07-004281
I know most of you who personally know me are in disbelief to hear from media reports that I am suspected of committing such horrendous murders and have taken drastic and shocking actions in the last couple of days. You are saying to yourself that this is completely out of character of the man you knew who always wore a smile wherever he was seen. I know I will be vilified by the LAPD and the media. Unfortunately, this is a necessary evil that I do not enjoy but must partake and complete for substantial change to occur within the LAPD and reclaim my name.
The department has not changed since the Rampart and Rodney King days. It has gotten worse. The consent decrees hould never have been lifted. The only thing that has evolved from the consent decree is those officers involved in the Rampart scandal and Rodney King incidents have since promoted to supervisor, commanders, and command staff, and executive positions. The question is, what would you do to clear your name?
Name;
A word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known, addressed, or referred to.
Name Synonyms;
reputation, title, appellation, denomination, repute.
A name is more than just a noun, verb, or adjective. It’s your life, your legacy, your journey, sacrifices, and everything you’ve worked hard for every day of your life as and adolescent, young adult and adult. Don’t let anybody tarnish it when you know you’ve live up to your own set of ethics and personal ethos.
THE NOBODIES
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- Written by Eduardo Galeano
Hart Island, New York City – The Final Destination Place for Homeless, Nobodies and Poor
Fleas dream of buying themselves a dog, and nobodies dream of escaping poverty: that one magical day good luck will suddenly rain down on them - will rain down in buckets. But good luck doesn't even fall in a fine drizzle, no matter how hard the nobodies summon it, even if their left hand is tickling, or if they begin the new day with their right foot, or start the new year with a change of brooms.
The nobodies: nobody's children, owners of nothing.
The nobodies: the no ones, the nobodied, running like rabbits, dying through life, screwed every which way.
Who don't speak languages, but dialects. Who don't have religions, but superstitions.
Who don't create art, but handicrafts.
Who don't have culture, but folklore.
Who are not human beings, but human resources.
Who do not have names, but numbers.
Who do not appear in the history of the world, but in the police blotter of the local paper.
The nobodies, who are not worth the bullet that kills them
I FORGOT TO TELL YOU
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- Written by Vassya Vassileva
Two years ago in a freezing cold winter day I went to the East side of the Ontario lake where I officially announced the opening of the Toronto chapter of the Alytus Art Strike following a script that respects all pedantic procedures for opening ceremonies (including time for clapping). Was too cold, so no one wanted to join the ceremony. My friends waited for me in the car. But all the birds approached me in a flotilla, all the guys attentive and curious. Wind was blowing so hard that I couldn`t hear my voice so I couldn`t follow how far I had proceeded with the script and the paper kept turning into a paper ball I had to keep unfolding with my frozen fingers. Some birds seemed to be able to follow. Was epic.
I thought you would laugh seeing me there. Something to do with these birds, the frost and me never skipping a word.
COMMENT ON THE COMMUNIZATION PIECE
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- Written by DAMTP
It is eurocentric and intellectualist - like much of libcom stuff in ultra-left or left communist position. Fascism is an earlier stage of capitalist development before liberalism. So capitalism can retreat into fascism. At any time the holocaust of Africans etc. continues under liberal capitalism. The problem with communization is hinted at in the idea of voluntarism - and the failure to define the proletariat.
The point is that as we reject art we also reject science and politics...!
The working class, like woman, like the black, is always outside and invisible (does not exist!) - or is the object and never the subject (in the sense of subject-verb-object) of art or science.
SHAMANISM IS A KEY TO THE SECRETS OF COMMUNISM
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- Written by Chus Martínez
Unlike apologists for capitalist social relations, communudists have no desire to exalt the superiority of ‘modern man’ over his primitive forebears. On the contrary, communudists intuitively understand the ‘grandeur’ of primitive man and see in the society of the future a restoration, albeit on a higher level, of the primitive communism of the classless societies of the past.
Communudists know that anyone who wishes to be consistent in their opposition to capitalism must necessarily re-appropriate the types of consciousness that emerged from primitive communities, as well as their social form. Since the primitive community is a true community, a society without exploitation, in which production is still geared towards the satisfaction of human needs, it follows that a large part of the material resources of these societies were directed not simply towards the immediate struggle for existence but rather into activities that were enjoyed simply for their own sake. Work was suspended and life became play. The remorseless necessity to direct activity towards some future goal was replaced by pursuits without pre-determined ends. The tyranny of time was suspended and instead everybody found themselves transported into an ecstatic present.
ONCE AGAIN ON "CLASS STRUGGLE VS. IDENTITY POLITICS"
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- Written by DAMTP
Below we're publishing 2 texts: 2012 "Communisation Theory and the Question of Fascism" by cherry angioma, along 1990s one "Do Men Exist?" by NOT the Red Menace - are reproduced as a follow up to the discussion held at Alytus Psycho De-colonization Conference in September 21st - 22nd, 2012 and reported in part at:
http://4.alytusbiennial.com/news/556-damtp-alytus-meeting-report-a-reflections.html
COMMUNISATION THEORY AND THE QUESTION OF FASCISM
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- Written by cherry angioma
It is now more than five years since the start of the financial crisis with no sign of respite from austerity and increasing insecurity. Neither the old left of unions and parties or the newer social movements of protest and direct action seem to be up to the task of offering a way forward. In the search for new road maps to navigate crisis and the possibilities of life beyond capitalism, the concept of ‘communisation’ has become an increasing focus of discussion.
The word itself has been around since the early days of the communist movement. The English utopian Goodwyn Barmby, credited with the being the first person to use the term communist in the English language, wrote a text as early as 1841 entitled ‘The Outlines of Communism, Associality and Communisation’. He conceived of the four ages of humanity as being ‘ ’Paradisation, Barbarization, Civilization and Communisation’, while his wife and collaborator Catherine Barmby anticipated current debates about gender with early feminist interventions arguing for communisation as a solution to women’s subordination (Goodwyn Barmby is discussed in Peter Linebaugh, ‘Meandering on the semantical-historical paths of communism and commons’, The Commoner, December 2010).
The Barmbys’ use of the term to describe the process of the creation of a communist society is not a million miles away from its current usage, but it has acquired a more specific set of meanings since the early 1970s when elements of the French ‘ultra-left’ began deploying it as a way of critiquing traditional conceptions of revolution. Communism has often been conceived of by both Marxists and anarchists as a future state of society to be achieved in the distant future long after the messy business of revolution has been sorted out. For advocates of communisation on the other hand, capitalism can only be abolished by the immediate creation of different relations between people, such as the free distribution of goods and the creation of ‘communal, moneyless, profitless, Stateless, forms of life. The process will take time to be completed, but it will start at the beginning of the revolution, which will not create the preconditions of communism: it will create communism’ (Gilles Dauvé & Karl Nesic, ‘Communisation’, 2011).
Today this broad notion of communisation is used in various different ways, but arguably there are two main poles in current debates – albeit with many shades in between.
PSYCHIC SPAM ATTACKS – JUST DO IT!
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- Written by Chus Martínez
In a way very similar, yet different - to the construction of moving structures proposed by Ricardo - my proposal for a few day workshop at Nepokorennye studios was to explore the possibilities of other kind of material that could be put to work in the public realm – namely digital texts used for email spamming.
While Ricardo has a passion for spectacular technology, on my behalf I invited the participants of OKK-led workshops to try out the practice of Psychic Spam Attacks. Having tactically played around with re-writing and re-sending spam e-mails from my own mailbox, I was glad to share the experience of the initiative entitled POLARIS INTERNATIONAL Limited (in which I was myself involved), and give advice, as well as provide the spam text material to the workshop participants. In order to bring these kind of Opinion Props to the public realm, some form of identity would be "created" - at least in the form of an e-mail address.
We would draw on the rich history of multiple identity creation in order to question the fundamentals of the bourgeois society - all kind of separations including the one of "high" (namely art) and "low" culture, singular identity, and the capitalist logic of value creation.
АТАКА ПРОТИВ I ТРИЕННАЛЕ СОВРЕМЕННОГО БЕЛОРУССКОГО ИСКУССТВА БЕЛЭКСПО-АРТ 2012 /// ASSAULT AGAINST 1ST TRIENNIAL OF CONTEMPORARY BELORUSSIAN ART BELEKSPO-ART 2012
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- Written by yakizdat
"Сегодня, 23 ноября мы, группа молодых художников и активистов, сделали акцию на открытии официозной I триеннале современного белорусского искусства БелЭкспо-Арт 2012. Акция прошла в рамках параллельной программы http://artaktivist.org/afisha/events/1-ya-minskaya-triennale-parallelnaya-programma/
Today, November 23rd, 2012, the group of artists and activists did an action insde the official opening of the 1st triennial of Contemporary Belorussian Art BelEkspo-Art 2012. The acton was a part of the alternative parralel program of selforganized lectures, meetings, shows, actions and workshops.
(K)NOT THEORY
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- Written by Chus Martínez
In topology, knot theory is the study of mathematical knots. While inspired by knots which appear in daily life in shoelaces and rope, a mathematician’s knot differs in that the ends are joined together so that it cannot be undone. In precise mathematical language, a knot is an embedding of a circle in 3-dimensional Euclidean space, R3. Two mathematical knots are equivalent if one can be transformed into the other via a deformation of R3 upon itself (known as an ambientisotopy); these transformations correspond to manipulations of a knotted string that do not involve cutting the string or passing the string through itself.
Knots can be described in various ways. Given a method of description, however, there may be more than one description that represents the same knot. For example, a common method of describing a knot is a planar diagram called a knot diagram. Any given knot can be drawn in many different ways using a knot diagram. Therefore, a fundamental problem in knot theory is determining when two descriptions represent the same knot.
Links are also the subject of knot theory. A link consists of several knots (called components) and interwinted in any manner.
Knot theory was introduced as a scientific topic of investigation by “two middly eccentric nineteenth century Scottish physicists,” Lord Kelvin and Guthrie Tait.Today knot theory is one of the most active research areas of mathematics, but because of its developments in relation with knots and links, cibernetic studies has also included it as an useful tool. The idea of a net, as something whose nature escapes any definition other than that where elements relate to each other, so that their identity is nothing but the way in which they lead to others and the way others lead to them, was first applied by mathematicians in order to understand the complexity of certain links of knots. In that sense aiming to define any element in such a system, we would have to assume its incompleteness.
ON JANEZ JANŠA
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- Written by Chus Martínez
[Left to right: Luther Blissett, Janez Janša and Chus Martinez]
My Name Is Janez Janša is a 2012 documentary film about three contemporary artists, one of them the film director, who in 2007 all changed their name to that of Janez Janša, the Prime Minister of Slovenia. A number of way more interesting and earlier previous avant-grade and underground anti-art movements influenced this action including Dadaism, mail art and neoism.
Multiple name concepts – the idea that a single name should be used by a group of individuals- did not play a starring role in the history of Dada. But Hausmann, Grosz, Baader, Herzfelde and Herzfelde’s ‘Christ & Co. Ltd’ achieved more than footnote status in the standard histories of the Berlin avant-garde. Hausmann recollects the founding of this society in “Courier Dada”(Paris 1958): “I took Baader to the fields of Sudende (where Jung then lived), and said to him: ‘All this is yours if you do as 1 tell you. The Bishop of Brunswick has failed to recognize you as Jesus Christ, and you have retaliated by defiling the altar in his church. This is no compensation. From today, you will be President of The Christ Society, Ltd, and recruit members. You must convince everyone that he too can be Christ, if he wants to, on payment of fifty marks to your society. Members of our society will no longer be subject to temporal authority and will automatically be unfit for military service. You will wear a purple robe and we shall organise an Echternach procession in the Potsdamer Platz. I shall previously have submerged Berlin in biblical texts. All the poster columns will bear the words “He who lives by the sword shall perish by the sword”.’”
“NUOSTABUS SUTRIKIMAS” [apie retrofuturistinį ir eurocentristinį dOCUMENTA 13 (Kaselis, Vokietija) kolonializmą]
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- Written by Chus Martínez
dOCUMENTA “be sienų”
Pasak dOCUMENTos (13) kuratorės Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, po skurdžių pristatymų ankstesnėse parodose 2012-aisiais italai sugrįžta į didžiausią Vokietijos šiuolaikinio meno festivalį. Regis, jie sugrįžta “originaliuoju” 1930-ųjų stiliumi! Gaila, tačiau tiek paskutinė Berlyno Bienalė, tiek naujausia dOCUMENTA, struktūriškai ir ideologiškai remiasi nacionalistiniu ir etniniu tapatybės supratimu. Tuo pat metu jau minėtas Italų “dalyvavimas” dOCUMENToje (13) yra būtent tas elementas, leidžiantis šiam “anti-konceptualiam” konceptui dar kartą užkariauti Afganistaną (2012 m. dOCUMENTA vyksta Kaselyje (Vokietija), Kaire (Egiptas), Banfe (Kanada) ir Kabule (Afganistanas)). Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev yra italų-amerikiečių kilmės rašytoja, meno istorikė ir kuratorė, kuriai būdingas tapatinimasis su Vokietijos valdančiojo elito sprendžiama vietinės ir tarptautinės kultūros politika. Remiantis artnet.com autore Emily Nathan:
Gana keista, kodėl dOCUMENTos (13); Kaselis, Vokietija, 2012m. birželio 9 – rugsėjo 16 d.) kuratorė Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev pasirinko surengti du metus trukusį meno paskaitų ir dirbtuvių ciklą karo nuniokotame Afganistane. Afganų Seminarai – taip pavadinti rengėjų – vyko nuo 2010 ir 2012 metų, organizatoriams bendradarbiaujant su Gėtės Instituto (vok. Goethe Institut) Afganistano padaliniu, Kabulo Universiteto Afganistano Centru ir kitomis kultūrinėmis institucijomis. Tačiau, turint omenyje šiuometines Afganistano socialines ir politines sąlygas, toks sprendimas gali atrodyti naivus, jei ne pavojingas..[1]